The biggest SEC showdown this weekend has a massive question mark hanging over it: Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy is a game-time decision for the No. 4 Rebels’ visit to No. 21 Florida on Saturday. This isn’t just about a star player; it’s about a surprising point spread that has even Florida’s head coach scratching his head, questioning if the oddsmakers are out of their minds.
Lacy’s Availability Shakes the SEC Landscape
Lacy’s potential absence is a huge deal, especially after what went down last year when he torched Florida for 224 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on 31 carries, powering Ole Miss to a 34-24 win. The dude is electric. He left the Rebels’ 32-24 win over No. 10 LSU in the third quarter with what looked like a left shoulder injury, later announced as an “upper-body injury.” He still managed 43 yards on nine carries before exiting, showing his impact even in limited time. Head coach Pete Golding gave a glimmer of hope on Monday, saying the injury “wasn’t nearly as bad as we thought it was” and that X-rays came back negative. Lacy apparently wanted to get back in the game, but the coaches held him out as a precautionary measure. For the season, Lacy has racked up 191 yards and 4 touchdowns on 39 carries. Last year was his breakout, with an insane 1,567 rushing yards and 24 TDs on 306 carries, plus 177 yards on 29 receptions. If he can’t go, freshman JT Lindsey, a transfer from LSU, is set to start. Lindsey picked up 20 yards on 4 carries after Lacy went down against LSU, bringing his season total to 48 yards on 12 rushes across three games.
Gators Are Favored, And Even Their Coach Is Confused
Here’s where it gets wild: Despite Ole Miss being the No. 4 team in the country and Florida sitting at No. 21, the Gators are a surprising 3.5-point favorite at home. Yes, you read that right. Florida’s head coach, Jon Sumrall, was told by a reporter that his team was favored and his response was classic. He quipped, “Who has us favored against these guys?” and then delivered the absolute zinger, “There’s a lot of good drugs out there, huh?” That tells you everything you need to know about how unexpected this spread is, even for the guy leading the Gators. Sportsbooks are clearly betting big on Lacy’s potential absence swinging the game, considering his huge performance against Florida last season.
This Saturday’s showdown is going to be epic, especially with all eyes on Lacy’s status right up until game time. Will the Rebels prove Vegas wrong, or will Florida capitalize on Lacy’s potential absence? You just know it’s going to be a heavyweight brawl in the SEC.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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